Spitbank Fort: Spithead Portsmouth

Spitbank Fort is an unusual and historic sea fortress in the Solent, off Portsmouth. Now a luxury exclusive venue and hotel, the fort was formerly home to hundreds of soldiers guarding the approaches to Portsmouth. The arms and ammunition have long been removed, making way for nine luxuriously furnished bedroom suites, three bars, three restaurant areas, and spa facilities.

The restoration and conversion of Spitbank Fort has been done with great care and determination to conserve as much of the original Victorian features as possible. The result is a superb example of how to put old Victorian forts to modern use without destroying the historical integrity of the structure. The cartridge store retains its coast defence cartridge racking, two of the bedrooms have the 1906 shell lifts as a feature. The red brick vaulting is an amazing feature of the lounges, bar and communal areas, enhanced by the tasteful furnishing and sympathetic lighting. The signage and room identification throughout the fort hints at the original Victorian use whilst in places original labelling and fittings been left. The Victorians would have been impressed by the way in which a functional military structure has been transformed into a luxurious venue resting in splendid isolation in the middle of a busy shipping channel with unsurpassable views. I look forward to Clarenco rescuing No Mans Land Fort and Horse Sand Fort with the same expertise and vision.